ABSTRACT: The bearing capacity of shallow foundations is classically computed as the sum of three contributions, coming from the soil cohesion, the overburden pressure and the weight of the soil mass mobilized by the collapse mechanism. Each of these contributive terms is then multiplied by several special corrective factors that account for the effect of the shape, depth and tilt of the founda...

Mature watermelon vine decline (MWVD) is a late-season disease of unknown etiology, characterized by vine collapse and discolored, much reduced root systems. While several new disorders in watermelon have been reported recently, this problem appears specific to the Midwest. To test for a biological cause and methods to suppress this disorder, soil was collected from two southern Indiana fields ...

Although several studies have investigated the effect of degradation on the behavior of structures, investigations on collapse margin ratios are rare in the literature. In this study, the effect of strength and stiffness degradation on collapse capacity of steel moment frames is investigated. The aim is to determine margin of safety against collapse using a probabilistic approach. For this reas...

Sphagnum (spp.) is widely distributed in permafrost regions around the arctic and subarctic. The moisture content of the moss layer affects the thermal insulative capacity and preservation of permafrost. It also controls the growth and collapse history of palsas and other peat mounds, and is relevant, in general terms, to permafrost thaw (therrnokarst). In this study, we test and calibrate seve...

The control of the Mediterranean pine vole through manual bait placement is too fastidious. It prevents the realization of collective control on large areas. In this situation, mechanization is necessary. A burrow builder, made of a tubular ploughshare, has been devised in order to make artificial runs in the soil where baits may be deposited. This plough was successfully tested in fall 1989 in...